Marrickville Metro expansion approval is a very bad planning decision

The Greens have condemned the Planning Assessment Commission’s decision to approve the expansion of the Marrickville Metro Shopping Centre, labelling it a terrible planning decision that will harm the community.

“An expanded Marrickville Metro is not only bad for local residents and traffic, but will harm the economic health of our local shopping strips,” said Greens Councillor Max Phillips.

“This decision is a legacy of Labor’s Part 3A planning law that stripped local communities of important planning decisions.

“This decision totally disregards zoning provisions and Marrickville’s urban strategy which is to strengthen existing shopping strips and community hubs.

“Why on earth did the Department of Planning agree to the Marrickville LEP, only to blow a massive hole in it a few months later by approving an expansion to a shopping centre in a zoning where it is not permissible?

“The perception is that while local residents and small time developers have to abide by planning rules, the big players like AMP Capital can ignore the rules.

“The Greens congratulate the excellent community campaign that did have an impact by improving the expansion plans. However, at the end of the day the community’s wishes have been trumped by AMP Capital’s slick PR and corporate muscle.

“If this development had been decided by the locally elected council, it is clear it would have been rejected outright. Labor’s controversial Part 3A laws, which have since been abolished, made this expansion possible. The O’Farrell Government has unfortunately kept many features of the Part 3A system – such as Planning Assessment Commissions deciding developments rather than local councils.

“The Greens will continue to work on Marrickville Council and with the community to minimise the impact of the expanded Metro on the local community, traffic conditions and local businesses,” he said.

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The Marrickville and Petersham-Newtown Greens are the local groups for members of The Greens political party living in the Sydney suburbs of Dulwich Hill, Enmore, Lewisham, Marrickville, Newtown, Petersham, St Peters, Stanmore, Sydenham and Tempe.

All electoral comment on this site authorised by Richard Morrell 19 Eve Street Erskinville NSW